The Creston and District Public Library kicks off the fall 2013 season of its library film club with the showing of the National Film Board of Canada’s Secretariat’s Jockey, Ron Turcotte. This film is the remarkable story of Turcotte’s rise to fame in 1973, the fall that left him a paraplegic in 1978 — after an illustrious career with more than 3,000 victories — and his emotional journey back to the people and places that marked his life.
The thoroughbred racer, Secretariat was and is a household name that for many defines everything that is great about horse racing. Though his career was only 16 months long, Secretariat won the heart of the world as well as becoming the first Triple Crown champion in 25 years in 1973. Winning by 31 lengths, he set a world record that stands to this day. He has appeared on the cover of Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated magazines, has been the subject of a major motion picture, and at the time was more popular than any celebrity. He appeared in 21 racing events, won 16 and finished in the money in all of his races but one- his first.
Ron Turcotte, Secretariat’s jockey, is a legend in his own right. Turcotte was born in 1941 in Drummond, N.B., and began his career in Toronto in 1959 and was soon wearing the silks and winning races. Turcotte became internationally famous in 1973 when he rode Secretariat to win the Triple Crown. He was North America’s leading stakes-winning jockey in 1972 and 1973. He became the first jockey since 1902 to win the Kentucky Derby back-to-back, and is the only jockey to ever have won five of six consecutive Triple Crown races.
See Secretariat’s Jockey, Ron Turcotte at the Creston and District Public Library at 7 p.m. Sept. 10. Admission is free. Running time is 75 minutes. For more information, contact the library at 250-428-4141.
—CRESTON AND DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARY